Join our team in Kenya as a Community Environmental Legal Officer (paralegal) in Isiolo, Marsabit, Lamu or Kilifi.
Who is Natural Justice?
Natural Justice is a young and fast-paced non-profit organisation specialising in human rights and environmental law. We are an African pioneering team of legal practitioners, who conduct comprehensive research on environmental and human rights law, support communities and local organisations, provide technical advice to governments and intergovernmental organisations, and engage in key international legal processes in pursuit of environmental justice. Natural Justice works in a number of African countries, with its headquarters in Cape Town and program’s in Kenya and Benin.
What are we looking for?
Kenya has a number of laws that citizens can use when they, and their environments, are affected by various projects. However, there is often a gap that exists between law and its implementation resulting in negative impacts on local people. To assist in narrowing this gap, we are seeking full-time paralegals, also known as community environmental legal officers, to work with communities negatively affected by environmental issues and help them find remedies through the government administrative and regulatory institutions. The community environmental legal officers will work with and support community members to, collect and submit evidence of environmental impacts, assist communities to follow up with and facilitate discussions with relevant government institutions, liaise and collaborate with local civil society groups.
The successful candidates will join a team of community environmental legal officers and be based in Isiolo, Marsabit, Lamu or Kilifi Counties. They will work very closely with the Natural Justice Program Team based in Nairobi.
What’s on offer?
Natural Justice is a close-knit and nurturing collective that places emphasis on facilitating opportunities for the professional and personal growth of its members. Natural Justice will offer a salary commensurate with skill and experience. The contract length will be up to one year with intention of a longer-term arrangement.
Minimum qualifications and skills
- KCSE Certificate and 5 years work-experience in a related field; and/or a Diploma with 3 years experience in a relevant field; and/or an undergraduate degree in a social science discipline, environmental/resource management or law;
- Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English, Kiswahili and for Kilifi or Isiolo applicants only, a local language of the county;
- Good knowledge of Word, Excel and Power point and Internet use.
Desirable qualifications and attributes
- A postgraduate degree in social or environmental sciences or law;
- Professionalism, strong work ethic, and personal initiative (“a self-starter”);
- Keen interest in and commitment to advancing the rights of marginalized communities, particularly in relation to their environments;
- Willingness and ability to travel often;
- Critical and analytical thinking;
- Strong oral and written communication skills;
- Resident of or fromIsiolo / Marsabit/ Lamu / Kilifi Counties.
Application process
Deadline: 25 September 2017, 17:00 East Africa Time
Please email your application to:
Gino Cocchiaro ([email protected]) with the job title in the subject line, indicating the specific county you are applying to join.
Include a motivation letter that indicates why you feel you are the best candidate for this position, a detailed CV with three references, and, if available, maximum two samples of your past written work (for example, articles or research reports). Please ensure that your application as a whole speaks to the required skills and experience and desirable traits and attributes listed above.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.